Review of Beyond the Higher Ground
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Martin Skinn3r
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Review of Beyond the Higher Ground
[Following is a volunteer review of "Beyond the Higher Ground" by Thomas A. Brigger.]
Tucker Mason was a reluctant participant in heading the building of a brand-new prison in Wells County, Virginia. He had no experience in erecting a prison, but he accepted the challenge nonetheless. He would have to live down in Virginia for over a year. He needed a place to rent because Leo had said it would be cheaper than living in motels. A house was probably too big for him since he would be travelling and probably living alone. He had recently lost his wife, Katherine, and this move to Virginia seemed like a renewal of his life in some ways. He found a not-so-great house to rent not too far away from the prison site. The owner of the house and his wife had recently passed, but that would prove to be the last of his worries as he continued to live in Wells County. His presence there was haunted by mysteries that are slowly revealed in Beyond the Higher Ground by Thomas A. Brigger.
Stories about drug crimes often follow a more cosmopolitan storyline, but this book took a different route. This story takes place in a rural type of setting, which isn't normal for such a subject matter. I was impressed by how much the author managed to bring the setting into the story. The places that were explored were used well to portray this eerie, almost gothic feel that I got from reading the novel.
I must also comment on how well the characters were designed. Jeff and Cecil Beckham were particularly impressive. They are exactly the type of people I would expect to stumble on whilst exploring Wells County. At first sight, they matched their surroundings perfectly. And once you got to know them very well, they seemed to evolve and take on a different persona than the one they first presented. I enjoyed peeling the layers of all characters. The protagonist, too, had heaps of layers to get into. Tucker Mason is a complex character who grew exponentially as the story progressed.
I also thought that the author used the atmosphere of mystery that Wells County possesses well. The first few chapters were very deceiving because they led me to believe that the story was going to take a more supernatural approach. I credit that to intelligent and intentional writing.
There's very little else to say other than to say that I simply enjoyed all aspects of the story. I have to rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I think that it was a well-balanced story that served strong elements of storytelling. The plot, narration style, and characters carried the whole thing to a beautiful conclusion.
This is undoubtedly a crime novel. I think that readers who enjoy that genre will also enjoy this book. It is intense and enjoyable, and it deals with a real subject matter whilst not compromising on the entertainment value.
******
Beyond the Higher Ground
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Tucker Mason was a reluctant participant in heading the building of a brand-new prison in Wells County, Virginia. He had no experience in erecting a prison, but he accepted the challenge nonetheless. He would have to live down in Virginia for over a year. He needed a place to rent because Leo had said it would be cheaper than living in motels. A house was probably too big for him since he would be travelling and probably living alone. He had recently lost his wife, Katherine, and this move to Virginia seemed like a renewal of his life in some ways. He found a not-so-great house to rent not too far away from the prison site. The owner of the house and his wife had recently passed, but that would prove to be the last of his worries as he continued to live in Wells County. His presence there was haunted by mysteries that are slowly revealed in Beyond the Higher Ground by Thomas A. Brigger.
Stories about drug crimes often follow a more cosmopolitan storyline, but this book took a different route. This story takes place in a rural type of setting, which isn't normal for such a subject matter. I was impressed by how much the author managed to bring the setting into the story. The places that were explored were used well to portray this eerie, almost gothic feel that I got from reading the novel.
I must also comment on how well the characters were designed. Jeff and Cecil Beckham were particularly impressive. They are exactly the type of people I would expect to stumble on whilst exploring Wells County. At first sight, they matched their surroundings perfectly. And once you got to know them very well, they seemed to evolve and take on a different persona than the one they first presented. I enjoyed peeling the layers of all characters. The protagonist, too, had heaps of layers to get into. Tucker Mason is a complex character who grew exponentially as the story progressed.
I also thought that the author used the atmosphere of mystery that Wells County possesses well. The first few chapters were very deceiving because they led me to believe that the story was going to take a more supernatural approach. I credit that to intelligent and intentional writing.
There's very little else to say other than to say that I simply enjoyed all aspects of the story. I have to rate it 5 out of 5 stars. I think that it was a well-balanced story that served strong elements of storytelling. The plot, narration style, and characters carried the whole thing to a beautiful conclusion.
This is undoubtedly a crime novel. I think that readers who enjoy that genre will also enjoy this book. It is intense and enjoyable, and it deals with a real subject matter whilst not compromising on the entertainment value.
******
Beyond the Higher Ground
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: American Dream? by Jeoung Lee
